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1983 Yamaha maxim xs400j

The adjustment screws on my carburetor are stuck. The two screws sit right above the non-venturi side (engine) on top, however they are also down in a sleve. I have tried soaking the area in PB blaster to no avail. Can I tap them out with a drill, or am I screwed and need new carburetors?

Any help would be appreciated, even if you know where I could get carburetors would be appreciated ( I am continuously looking on ebay).

ThanksPeter

This is a tough one. Paging 9000white - he'll probably know what to do as would a few others. I bet ebay is your best bet on finding some used ones and I'm sure there are some on there... except whenever you need them. How far are you from Seattle, WA? You might try calling bent-bike in Lynnwood or Auburn on either side of Seattle. It's 50-50 that they'd have them. They aren't cheap but you probably can't be too picky looking for carbs that old.

these things are a pia.

Don't give up on them. If they still have a good notch on them (For the screwdriver) it's worth it to keep soaking them. You might want to try a little heat as well - If they are stripped, it's probably easiest to get new carbs.

how much heat would you recommend? If I follow correctly the heat would cause things to expand and then when they cool off again contract and perhaps breaking the bond. Would it be helpful if I took some of that compressed air to cool it off faster?

The heads on them are pretty thrashed but I figure I have one more go at them if I tap on the screwdriver with a hammer. If that doesn't work then its a no go, and I need new carbs. I'm not too far from Seattle so that might be an option, thanks for the tip.

if you have them off turn them so you can put some diesel fuel around them and let them soak for a full day.then take a very small hammer and place the screwdriver blade in the groove and tap lightly on the screwdriver handle--tap until you get sick of it then tap some more then unscrew them.

the two holes at the top are where the screws are so you can get an idea of what I am working with.

9000white, just to clarify, soak that end of the carb in diesel overnight or over the weekend?

peterman wrote:how much heat would you recommend? If I follow correctly the heat would cause things to expand and then when they cool off again contract and perhaps breaking the bond. Would it be helpful if I took some of that compressed air to cool it off faster?

The heads on them are pretty thrashed but I figure I have one more go at them if I tap on the screwdriver with a hammer. If that doesn't work then its a no go, and I need new carbs. I'm not too far from Seattle so that might be an option, thanks for the tip.

Cool - they might ship as well - not sure about that but it would be worth a phone call. they won't guarantee anything of course with used parts, they'll just tell you - 'my guarantee is that they came off a running bike".

Hey CB360 do you have a phone number? I'm going to go the diesel rout this weekend and if that still doesn't work I'll just light the thing on fire and buy a new one.

peterman wrote:Hey CB360 do you have a phone number? I'm going to go the diesel rout this weekend and if that still doesn't work I'll just light the thing on fire and buy a new one.

That sounds like a good plan. I PM'd my phone number if you want to talk about bent-bikes I might be up near there this weekend and I could check their stock if you wanna give me the particulars.